380 or more in the nineteenth century , when a fishing station was opened at crab ##ba ##berry in west vo ##e . subsequently there was a steady decline in population , although the numbers have increased from a low of 16 in the 1970s . today the main settlement on the island is big ##ging ##s , just to the east of which is ho ##usa vo ##e from where the s ##no ##lda ferry arrives from its base at west burr ##af ##ir ##th on the shetland mainland . croft ##ing , especially sheep rear ##ing , is the main ##sta ##y of island life . numerous ship ##wr ##eck ##s have occurred around the coast , and the celebrated poem da sang o da papa
380 or more in the nineteenth century, when a fishing station was opened at crabbaberry in west voe. subsequently there was a steady decline in population, although the numbers have increased from a low of 16 in the 1970s. today the main settlement on the island is biggings, just to the east of which is housa voe from where the snolda ferry arrives from its base at west burrafirth on the shetland mainland. crofting, especially sheep rearing, is the mainstay of island life. numerous shipwrecks have occurred around the coast, and the celebrated poem da sang o da papa